The End Of Traditional TV: Sky’s Future Is All Streaming

Remember when getting Sky meant having an engineer come round to drill holes in your wall and install a satellite dish? Those days are rapidly becoming history – and it’s not just because technology has moved on.

These days, 90% of new Sky customers never see a drill – they get their TV shows entirely through broadband.

But Sky’s transformation into a streaming company isn’t just about following trends or making installation easier – it’s about survival in a world where Netflix and Disney+ are changing how we watch TV.

The company that built its empire on satellite dishes is trying something different: becoming a streaming company that brings everything together in one place.

The catch? You’ll usually pay more for this convenience, often with longer contracts, and you might lose some of the features that made Sky popular in the first place (like proper recordings).

It’s a risky move for Sky, and an interesting choice for consumers: pay more for simplicity, or save money by managing your streaming services separately? 

Why Change Was Inevitable

The writing has been on the wall for traditional TV companies for a while now.

Netflix and its streaming siblings changed everything – suddenly, watching whatever you want, whenever you want, became the norm. No schedules, no contracts, no installation required.

But there’s a catch with all this streaming freedom: it’s becoming a bit of a mess. Netflix for some shows, Disney+ for others, Prime Video because it comes with your Amazon delivery… and then there’s sports, which usually requires a completely different subscription.

Before you know it, you’re juggling multiple apps, multiple bills, and trying to remember which show is where.

Sky’s Multi-Pronged Attack

The genius (or perhaps complexity) of Sky’s approach is how they’re trying to cater to everyone:

Want everything integrated with the simplest possible setup? Sky Glass gives you a TV with everything built in.

Happy with your current TV but want that same integration? Sky Stream brings the same experience to any television.

Just want to stream Sky’s content without any commitment? NOW lets you dip in and out monthly.

On a budget but still want premium content? The new Essential TV package bundles Sky Atlantic, Netflix and Discovery+ for £15 a month.

And – it’s all based on broadband and streaming, without a dish in sight. 

The Device Dilemma

These days, most of us already have ways to stream TV. Whether it’s your smart TV, a Fire TV Stick, or a Roku – streaming devices are everywhere, and they’re usually cheaper and more flexible than Sky Stream.

So why would anyone choose Sky’s more limited box?

While all modern streaming devices try to unify content – searching across apps and showing recommendations from different services – Sky Stream tries to do it more elegantly.

The interface feels a bit more natural, like everything was designed to work together from the start rather than being patched together over time (which is particularly apparent on Fire TV devices, that throw everything but the kitchen sink at you).

Sky’s Playlist feature, for instance, brings together content from different services more smoothly than most competitors. Other devices have similar features, but Sky’s implementation feels more polished and easier to use, especially for people who aren’t tech experts.

Yes, you get fewer apps than with a Fire TV Stick or Roku – and for “power users” like me, a Fire TV stick with its huge library of apps would always be a must.

But for many people – especially those who find modern TV watching a bit overwhelming – Sky’s more curated approach might actually be a good thing.

You get the main services most people use (Netflix, Disney+, Prime Video, Apple TV+), in an interface that puts simplicity first.

The Price of Convenience

Here’s the thing about Sky’s streaming transformation – it’s not really about saving you money (surprise!). In fact, you’ll usually end up paying more for the convenience of having everything in one place.

Let’s look at a typical setup: If you just want the major streaming services, and you’re willing to watch adverts, you might pay around £24 monthly for Netflix Standard, Disney+, and Prime Video combined.

Sure, it means managing different apps and subscriptions, but it gives you access to a massive amount of content.

Compare that to Sky Stream’s basic package at £29/month (with a 24-month contract), which includes Sky Entertainment channels and Netflix with adverts – but then you would need to pay extra for 4K quality (£6/month), ad-skipping (£5/month), and any additional streaming services you want.

Suddenly you’re looking at £40+ monthly, and that’s before adding Sky Sports (£28/month) or Sky Cinema (£13/month).

Sky’s new budget option, Essential TV, looks more competitive at £15/month – you get Sky Atlantic, Netflix with ads, and Discovery+. But again, you’re locked into a contract.

NOW, Sky’s other streaming service, takes a different approach. At £9.99/month for Entertainment, it seems cheaper – until you realize you need to pay another £6/month just to watch in HD (or £9 for 4K), and another £9.99/month for Sky Cinema (though they’re often discounted).

Add Sky Sports, and you’re looking at more than £50 monthly.

The message is clear: Sky isn’t competing aggressively on price. They’re betting that people will pay extra for the convenience of having everything in one place, with one bill and one interface to learn.

For some people, that simplicity might be worth the premium. For others, managing separate streaming services might be worth the savings.

When Simple Isn’t Always Better

Of course, this streamlined approach isn’t for everyone. As mentioned, if you’re the type who likes to tinker with your tech, or if you use lots of different streaming apps, Sky’s walled garden might feel a bit too restrictive.

And there are some genuine limitations to consider. You can’t take Sky Stream with you when you travel (unlike a Fire TV Stick), you’re stuck with the apps Sky decides to support, and you’re paying a premium for that simplicity – especially when you add things like 4K quality and ad-skipping.

And let’s not forget the recording issue. While it’s irrelevant for most in today’s streaming world, it’s still a highly liked feature for those who still use Sky Q (or a Freeview recorder box).

There’s also the internet requirement. While most of us have decent broadband these days, streaming everything means even basic TV watching requires a stable connection.

With a satellite dish, at least you could still watch your recordings during an internet outage, or if you live in a rural area with bad broadband.

Is This The Future?

What Sky’s building here is interesting – it’s not just another streaming service, but it’s not traditional TV either. They’re betting that while people want the convenience of streaming, they don’t want the hassle of managing multiple subscriptions and apps.

Can they pull it off? The 90% uptake of their streaming options suggests they might be onto something, and their TV – Sky Glass – became a surprising bestseller.

But they’re also facing challenges from all sides:

• Pure streaming services keep improving their offerings
• Smart TVs are getting better at integration
• Traditional TV viewers might resist the change
• Tech-savvy users might prefer more flexible solutions
• People are becoming more price-conscious 

It seems that Sky isn’t just turning into a streaming service – they’re trying to reinvent what pay-TV means in 2025.

For some people, especially those who find modern TV watching overwhelming, their approach solves real problems. Having everything in one place, with one bill and one interface to learn, has genuine appeal.

But it’s not for everyone. If you’re comfortable with technology and happy managing multiple services, you might find Sky’s approach unnecessarily restrictive – and needlessly expensive.

• Check Sky Stream Offers
• Check Sky Glass Offers